Increase in Employment Scams as World Reopens

Summary

As the world slowly begins to reopen from pandemic restrictions, cybercriminals continue to capitalize on those seeking employment. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) El Paso, Texas field office issued a press release warning job seekers of an increase in employment scams. Oftentimes, these job postings are available on popular online job boards or sent directly to intended victims through email, social media, or text. The intent of these scams includes delivering malware, stealing funds, or collecting personally identifiable information (PII). Stolen PII can be used for a number of purposes to include draining bank accounts and committing identity theft. According to the FBI, victims reported that various departments and individuals were impersonated in these scams, including recruiters, talent acquisition, human resources, and department managers. Within the last week, at least two employment scams have been identified – Costco, and Michael Page consultants, a world-leading employment agency.

Recommendations

The NJCCIC recommends users educate themselves and others of these continuing threats and tactics to reduce victimization. Users are advised to avoid clicking links and opening attachments from unknown senders and exercise caution with emails from known senders. If you are unsure of an email’s legitimacy, contact the sender via a separate means of communication before taking any action. In addition, we advise job seekers to research potential employers before responding or providing sensitive information.